be
gb/bˈi/ us/bˈi/
A1
English
~ 100
van, létezik, él, történik, marad
VERB
A1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is [adjective/noun]
I think, therefore I am.
Gondolkodom, tehát vagyok.
Will you be at the meeting tomorrow?
Ott leszel holnap a megbeszélésen?
Dinosaurs used to be, but they are extinct now.
She wants to be a teacher someday.
Learner examples
I am happy.
Boldog vagyok.
He is at school.
Iskolában van.
We are friends.
They are here.
Common mistake:
Learners often forget to change 'be' to the correct form (am/is/are) for the subject.
Meaning
to exist or to live
Collocations
be alive
|be here
|be present
|be real
|be gone
Synonyms
exist (More formal; often used in philosophical or scientific contexts.)
Antonyms
cease (Means to stop existing or to end.)
Themes
daily life
|philosophy
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To live or to be real.
To have actual existence or to be alive.
VERB
A1
2
Usage pattern:
The [event] is [time/place]
The party will be next Friday.
A buli jövő pénteken lesz.
The meeting was at 3 p.m.
A megbeszélés délután háromkor volt.
The concert will be in the park.
Learner examples
The game is on Sunday.
A meccs vasárnap lesz.
The class will be in the morning.
Az óra délelőtt lesz.
The test is next week.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'be' with 'have' when talking about events (e.g., 'The party has on Friday' instead of 'is on Friday').
Meaning
to happen or take place
Collocations
be on Monday
|be in summer
|be tonight
Synonyms
happen (Common alternative in casual speech.)
Antonyms
not happen (Simply indicates that an event does not occur.)
Themes
daily life
|time
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To happen at a time or place.
To take place, occur, or happen at a certain time or place.
VERB
A1
3
van
A1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is [role/identity/description]
She is my sister.
Ő a lánytestvérem.
He wants to be an engineer.
Mérnök akar lenni.
This is the main problem.
Learner examples
I am a student.
Diák vagyok.
He is my brother.
Ő a fiútestvérem.
This is my book.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes omit 'a' before roles (e.g., 'I am teacher' instead of 'I am a teacher').
Meaning
to have a role or identity
Collocations
be a doctor
|be the leader
|be my friend
Synonyms
serve as (Often used for temporary roles.)
Antonyms
not be (Indicates absence of that role or identity.)
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
To say what someone or something is.
To indicate the role, job, identity, or nature of someone or something.
VERB
A2
4
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is [adjective/location]
Please be quiet during the movie.
Kérlek, maradj csendben a film alatt.
She was still in bed at noon.
Délben még mindig ágyban volt.
The shop will be open until 8 p.m.
Learner examples
Be careful.
Légy óvatos.
The door is open.
Az ajtó nyitva van.
He is in the room.
Meaning
to stay in a condition
Collocations
be quiet
|be available
|be open
Synonyms
stay (Implies continuing without change.)
Antonyms
become (Indicates a change from one state to another.)
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To stay in the same way or place.
To remain in a particular state, situation, or place.
Grammar
Dictionary form
be
IPA
GB/bˈi/
US/bˈi/
Syllables & stress
be (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (be)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: am, are, be
- 3rd Person Singular: is
- Present Participle: being
- Past: was, were
- Past Participle: been
Word family
Forms
is
verb
being
verb
was
verb
were
verb
been
verb
Core family
become
verb A2
Negative and opposite forms
nonexistent
adjective B2
Highlights
- Irregular 3rd person singular: is Verb
- Irregular past: was, were Verb
- Irregular past participle: been Verb
Expressions
be about to
1/bˈi əbˈaʊt tə/
fixed phrase
to be going to do soon
To be very near in time to doing something.
Examples
- I was about to call you when you arrived.
- She is about to start her new job.
be into
1/bˈi ˈɪntu/
fixed phrase
informal
to like something a lot
To like something very much or be very interested in it.
Examples
- He's really into jazz music these days.
- I'm not into horror films.
be up to someone
1/bˈi ˈʌp tə sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
decision is someone's responsibility
When something is someone's choice or responsibility.
Examples
- It's up to you whether we go out tonight.
- The final decision will be up to the manager.
be over the moon
1/bˈi ˈoʊvɚ ðə mˈun/
idiom
informal
to be extremely happy about something
To feel very, very happy about something.
Examples
- She was over the moon when she got the job.
- They were over the moon about their new baby.
be supposed to
1/bˈi səpˈoʊzd tə/
fixed phrase
to be expected to do something
To have a duty or expectation to do something.
Examples
- You are supposed to finish your homework before dinner.
- You are supposed to hand in your homework on time.
- We were supposed to meet at 6 p.m.
- The train is supposed to arrive at 8 p.m.